The Major Features of Evolution

Simpson, George Gaylord

doi:10.7312/simp93764

Cited by 1,923 publications

(745 citation statements)

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“…A classic adaptive radiation reflects the exploitation of an ecological opportunity presented by underutilized resources (Losos 2010;Schluter 2000;Simpson 1953;Yoder et al 2010). These opportunities could involve the appearance of new resources, liberating resources through extinction of previous occupants, colonization of a region where resources were under-utilized, or evolution of a trait that permits utilization of resources in a new way (Losos 2010;Simpson 1953). The last of these corresponds to cases where a 'key innovation' has been identified that is generative and opens new evolutionary possibilities.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological drivers of the Ediacaran-Cambrian diversification of Metazoa

2011

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Organismal modifications to their physical and chemical environment play a significant role in structuring many modern ecosystems, and experimental evidence suggests that such behavior can increase diversity. Despite the important role such activities play in connecting ecology and evolution, less is known of the macroevolutionary impact of such influences, especially their role during major evolutionary transitions. The Ediacaran-Cambrian diversification of Metazoa encompassed the appearance and early diversification of virtually all major clades of marine animals and the establishment of metazoan-dominated ecosystems. Here we assess the role of positive ecological feedbacks using a new compilation of the first occurrences of all metazoan phyla, classes; orders and equivalent stem taxa, as well as data from a previously published compendium on fossils from the early to middle Cambrian of China. The results reveal relatively minor feedback during the Ediacaran, but a substantial increase during the Cambrian, principally through bioturbation and the appearance of a number of structural engineers, including sponges. Chemical modification of the environment through filtering and bioturbation seems to have had the largest impact. Data on taxic diversity is a poor proxy for abundance, or for the actual environmental impact of these activities, however. Future assessments of the influence of ecological feedbacks on this event will require standardized assessments of the abundance of taxa with different ecological roles.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological drivers of the Ediacaran-Cambrian diversification of Metazoa

2011

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“…Grene's conclusion that type-concepts are an indispensable component of biological thinking requires a stronger argument than Grene has yet provided. 24 Simpson (1953), 199e222, discussed further below. 25 Simpson (1949), 7.…”

Section: Hull's Objections To Grenementioning

confidence: 98%

“…18 Regarding Hull and Popper I follow the account of Winsor (2006), 165e167. 19 Schindewolf, 199319 Schindewolf, [1950; Simpson (1949Simpson ( , 1953. A summary of these parameters, which include "verbal," "visual," "attentional," and "conceptual" planes, is given in ), 116.…”

Section: Recent Debates About Typological Thinkingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Grene and Hull on types and typological thinking in biology

Honenberger¹

2015

Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C: Studies in

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“…The current view is that partial phenotypic reversals are common, but neither complete (involving the whole phenotype) or perfect reversals do occur. This is due to the unlikelihood of following the exact evolutionary path backwards (Dollo, 1893;Simpson, 1953;Laurent, 1983;Blackburn, 1984). Further, the more complex in its genetic regulation a structure is, the less likely it is to be reverted, since this implies more steps to tuna backwards.…”

Section: Critique Of the Current Perspectivementioning

confidence: 99%

“…There are several ways to state that evolutionary reversals always involve only a small part of the phenotype (Dollo, 1893;Simpson, 1953;Gould, 1970;Lande, 1978;Macbeth, 1980;Laurent, 1983;Blackburn, 1984). If evolutionary paths are constrained either by behavior (as I propose) or by development (as structuralists propose), it would not be so unlikely to revert an evolutionary trajectory, at least in its main trend.…”

Section: Irreversibility Of Evolutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavior, body types and the irreversibility of evolution

Aboitiz

1990

Acta Biotheor

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A functional approach to evolutionary morphology is emphasized in this paper. This perspective differs from the current 'structuralist' trend, which emphasizes the constraining role of developmental paths. In addition, the present approach agrees with the adaptationist paradigm. It is further argued that three types of phenomena are better understood in this light: i. The existence of evolutionary trends, ii. The maintenance of certain structural features within a given taxon, and iii. The irreversibility of evolution.

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The Major Features of Evolution

Cited by 1,923 publications

References 0 publications

Ecological drivers of the Ediacaran-Cambrian diversification of Metazoa

Ecological drivers of the Ediacaran-Cambrian diversification of Metazoa

Grene and Hull on types and typological thinking in biology

Behavior, body types and the irreversibility of evolution

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